Because of the complexity and the high cost, lighting control and whole house integration has only been available to a fortunate few. By keeping devices simple and programming easy, automation can become something that everyone can use. In the future, everyone is going to expect to have it.

Hardwired Lighting Control:
Now Affordable and Reliable

Because of the
complexity and the high cost, lighting control and whole house
integration has only been available to a fortunate few. By keeping
devices simple and programming easy, automation can become something
that everyone can use. In the future, everyone is going to expect to
have it.

For years the only affordable lighting control was X10 powerline carrier
technology. The only problem was that it didn't work very well. X10 systems rely
on passing signals across the existing power structure of the home. X10 is a
great idea in theory, but in practice, the signals must deal with the noise
generated by all the other devices using the powerlines.

Hardwired lighting control systems are more reliable than powerline carrier
based systems because they have a dedicated communications cable run from each
switch location back to a central controller. There were hardwired systems
available, but these were very expensive and complicated for installers.

Three years ago, CentraLite Systems introduced the Elegance lighting control
system. For the first time, there was an affordable hardwired system on the
market without the usual complexity. The Elegance system is based on panels of
solid-state relays which control the lighting loads throughout the home. A
Master Control Panel (MCP) receives inputs from low voltage switches and other
sensors and decides what should be done with the loads

Programming Issues

Hardwired lighting control systems must be programmed with a software utility
usually running on a laptop. Lighting loads are configured. Lighting scenarios
(scenes) are created with loads. Switches are assigned to either loads or
scenes.

Programming most hardwired systems is very complex. One of the fears
installers have regarding lighting control systems is the difficulty in
programming them. Some systems require an MIT graduate working for hours just to
make one light come on. Programming has to be made easier for installers who are
not trained computer programmers. The Elegance system's programming software is
designed for folks who don't necessarily use their computers all day long. By
using simple, color-coded screens, the Elegance software allows just about
anyone to program a system.

Flexibility

Hardwired lighting control systems are inherently flexible. Any button can be
programmed to control any light or scene in a matter of seconds. What customers
want out of lighting control systems is the convenience of lighting scenes.
Scenes are lighting scenarios, which include multiple individual lighting loads
set to different dim levels with the press of a button. Scenes can also be
activated from external signals or based on timed events.

With a conventionally wired home, you're stuck with the switches you wired
for at the time your home was being built. A lighting control system allows
homeowners to change the functions of their switches after they've had an
opportunity to live in their homes. The flexibility of a hardwired system allows
for customization after the homeowner moves in that is just not possible with
conventionally wired homes.

Simplicity = Cost Effectiveness

CentraLite is able to keep the Elegance system affordable by keeping the
system simple. In most hardwired lighting control systems, each keypad contains
its own microprocessor. This leads to expensive equipment and more possible
points of failure. The Elegance system eliminates this expense and complexity by
keeping the switches simple. The Elegance Switches are simply contact closures.
The switches are run to centralized termination modules (STARs), which are
connected to a central controller (MCP).

Simplicity in programming is also important. Much of the expense in a
lighting control job is the days of programming required for most systems.
Installers also don't always keep perfect records of what wires go where. The
Elegance programming software takes this into account. If you have detailed
records of wiring locations (and if your installers really did what is on those
records), then you can program the system offline and load it into the MCP at
the jobsite. But if you're like us and you don't live in a perfect world, we've
included some helpful shortcuts to make programming easier.

The Elegance system allows installers to program switches simply by pressing
the button on the wall three times. The button address will pop up on the
computer screen. Then the installer just drags the button address over the
desired load or scene and drops it in.

Integration is Important

If you haven't been exposed to integrating the electronic subsystems in the
home, don't worry, you will. Having your electronic subsystems available at your
fingertips is something available right now.

Due to the cost associated with most whole house automation systems, they are
available to the few who could afford it. With the CentraLite Device Integrator
(CenDI), controlling your entire home from the palm of your hand is now
affordable. CenDI allows the homeowner to control lighting, thermostats,
security, and audio all from a handheld controller anywhere in the home. Cameras
can also be monitored right on the CenDI handheld.

The key to making integration work is using simple communication protocols
between devices. The RS-232 protocols used by the Elegance system consist of 5
to 9 characters.

It can Be for Everyone

Because of the complexity and the high cost, lighting control and whole house
integration has only been available to a fortunate few. By keeping devices
simple and programming easy, automation can become something that everyone can
use. In the future, everyone is going to expect to have it.

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